Dots of Independence: The Story of Louis Braille
Louis Braille was born in 1809 in the small French village of Coupvray, located near Paris. His father was a leather worker who made harnesses and saddles. At the age of three, Louis injured one of his eyes while playing with a sharp, pointed tool called an awl in his father's workshop. An infection developed, and because medical knowledge was limited at the time, the infection spread to his other eye. By the time he was five years old, Louis was completely blind.
Despite this hardship, Louis was an eager student with an exceptional memory. He attended the local village school, where he learned lessons by listening carefully to his teachers. However, he could not learn to read or write because the school lacked materials designed for blind children. Recognizing his academic ability, his family and local supporters helped him secure a scholarship to the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris. Louis entered the school in 1819, at ten years old.
- awl:
- A pointed tool used by leather workers to punch small holes.
- embossed:
- Decorated or printed with a design or lettering that stands out in relief from the surface.
- phonetically:
- In a manner based on speech sounds rather than written letters.
- notation:
- A system of written symbols used to represent specialized information, such as musical notes.
- stylus:
- A pointed, pen-like instrument used for writing, marking, or punching holes.
- tactile:
- Related to or experienced through the sense of touch.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What caused Louis Braille to lose his sight in both eyes during childhood?
- 2Why was Louis unable to learn to read and write at his local village school?
About this biography passage for 5th Grade
“Dots of Independence: The Story of Louis Braille” is a biography reading passage about Louis Braille and the invention of braille, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (644 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.